Soon another Christmas will be upon us. We will soon be deeply entrenched for better or worse in all of the traditions and festivities that make this time of year memorable. Soon the day will come that, for children everywhere, is shrouded in mystery. Like, how could Santa really get down that chimney when a raccoon got stuck in there last year. And, who really cares anyway as long as all of this neat stuff is showing up under our Christmas tree.
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Have you ever wondered why such an important event as Christ's entrance into the world would be retro-fitted with flying reindeer, elves, and a jolly old man who grants every child's materialistic fantasy? Believe it or not the answer is found in Scripture.

​Over the years I have spent a lot of time in hospitals, nursing homes, and Assisted Living facilities. It's not at all surprising that in these kinds of situations, you get a glimpse into an individual’s inner qualities. It is in these places that you encounter people who are in difficult and uncomfortable circumstances. When people’s lives are turned upside down, you generally get a glimpse of what is inside. I have seen both mind numbing hatred and bitterness in some, and the beautiful testimony of praise to God in others who were enduring similar affliction.

The time has finally come for America’s National Election. We’re finally going to learn which boxes the people actually checked.  As somewhat of a news "junkie", I have followed the election process quite closely.  Although, with all of the media attention, broadcast and cable news, radio news and programs, the pundits, internet news and social media; it would actually be difficult to avoid the bombardment. And while I have some pretty strong personal opinions on who and what are the best choices to receive my vote, I’ve often felt conflicted by what I believe are very "unchristian" positions taken, and the very questionable character of all the candidates.  Yet, as a whole hearted American I take my privilege and responsibility to vote very seriously, and am thankful to live in a country where the people still possess the power to choose their own leaders.

Its time to celebrate our nations Independence Day again. In 1776 our Forefathers drafted a document that would forever change both their lives and the course of human history. This document is called The Declaration of Independence. It proclaimed the independence of the 13 British colonies in America, and was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The declaration recounted the grievances of the colonies against the British crown and declared the colonies to be free and independent states.

It began:

I don't know if you have ever lost someone very close and dear to you. There is really no adequate way to describe the clash of emotions. The trauma of a loss like this can tear at the very core of your being. You want to be left alone, but being alone with your thoughts is its own torment. At night you long for the temporary escape of sleep, which if found, plays the cruel hoax of letting you awaken for an instant as though all were normal only to have the gut-wrenching reality of loss engulf you again.

I don't know about you, but as I pause for a few brief moments to get my bearings in a fast paced life, it is hard to believe that Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection (Easter) Sunday are upon us. These most holy and notable of Christian holidays are only a couple of weeks away.

I am reminded of the days leading up to our Lord Jesus' Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It was six days before the Jewish Passover, a busy time of preparation to celebrate the Lord's deliverance from Egypt more than a thousand years earlier. It was also a sober and holy time of anticipating the paschal lamb's sacrifice for the sin of the people.

Well the “Super Bowl Game” is just around the corner again.  Soon we’ll be back to all of the rhetoric about what really makes a winning team. “Defense is what wins games”.  “The best defense is a good offense.” I prefer to think that both offense and defense are essential elements of a winning team. If you have a good offense to score and no defense, the other team just holds on to the ball, controls the clock and scores at will. If you have a great defense to get the ball back and have no offense you can’t score, your defense spends the whole game on the field getting tired and the other team wins. This holds some great lessons for the Church and Christians today.

Dear Hillside Bible Family,

I hope you had a spectacular Christmas, enjoying family time and remembering how God kept His promise of love and salvation in Christ. As hard as it is to believe, 2016 is upon us. In anticipation of the New Year, let me encourage you to make it one of your Resolutions to go deeper with God.

Did you know the Bible says the oceans proclaim the Glory, Power and Majesty of God? If you've ever had the privilege of going to the southern coast, you would notice that most people remain on the beach, content to look at the beauty of the ocean. Some, fewer in number, actually "Enter In", wading into the water to actually experience the surf, and are rewarded with little treasures (the feel of the sand and surf, shells, little clams, etc), but are content to dabble in the shallows.

Even fewer venture out into the deep to swim and be carried by the powerful surf. Those who do are rewarded by the sense of being surrounded by the power of the water, but are still content to remain on the surface. They are completely unaware of the whole new world of awesome beauty waiting just beneath them.

Relatively few ever make the time to be trained and equipped to go beneath the surface, to see, experience and be immersed in that whole new world. I have been a Scuba Diver for 45 years, and experienced some of the most spectacular things imaginable; things that those on the beach, in the shallows, and even on the surface don't even know exist.

My challenge to you as we face the New Year, is that you, along with your spouse, your kids; Enter Into a deeper life with God and experience all that He has for you. Dive deep into His Word.  Don't be content to watch from the beach, wade in the shallows, or swim on the surface; but plumb the depths of who God is and what He has for you.

Hillside Bible Church has many S.A.L.T. (Serving And Learning Together) Growth and Care Groups to help equip, train and guide you to go deeper with God. Please look online at:  www.hillsidebible.org/groups or call the church office to get involved. No matter where you are with God, there is a SALT Group for you.

If you have been so blessed to have experienced the joy, peace and power that a deeper walk with God can give; we’d love you to consider hosting or leading a Group so you can help others to go deeper. Remember, "to whom much is given, of him also is much required". I would love to help you get started, give me a call.

May God grant us all a truly blessed New Year!

Love in Christ, Pastor Cliff

New Years is a time in our culture to look back over the past year. Then, based on what we see, make resolutions (resolute commitments) for the year ahead. Beginning a new year in the Lord, provides us a good time to evaluate our commitments to Him and how well we are doing fulfilling them as well.

Commitment is a somewhat forgotten word and concept in the latter part of the 20th century. We live in a society where promises are made and broken in quick succession . . . where we tend to place self and convenience ahead of the needs of another person.

We seem to have developed an extra dose of selfishness and self-centeredness, and that becomes the basis of deciding whether or not we will keep our commitments. Therefore, it could be argued that people are still making commitments, but to all the wrong things. Unfortunately, there is not much difference anymore between those who claim to be Christian and those who don’t. We all fall short of the mark when it comes to making and keeping commitments.

Lewis Smedes, in his book, Caring & Commitment, suggests that if we ever trade in the power to make and keep commitments for the quick fixes of the uncommitted life, we will threaten the whole future of our society as well as that of our own lives. “We cannot survive--we cannot preserve our humanity without making and keeping commitments”.

It may be that you are contemplating going back on a commitment you have made . . .

• It could be as basic as not being there in Church to usher, teach or serve on Sunday morning;
  
• It could be reneging on a promise to take your son or daughter on a special outing;
• It could be as serious as walking out on your marriage;

Martin Luther, the spark of the Protestant Reformation, called John 3:16 "the heart of the Bible, the Gospel in miniature."  It also expresses the true meaning of Christmas -- the reason Jesus, God’s Son, came into this world.  Consider these simple and powerful words: